What’s in the bag…..

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Tail End Charlie

Well, write it down boy ......
Years ago the split pin holding in one of my brake pads fell out. Fortunately I noticed before any serious braking and didn't lose the pad. A paper clip did a grand job of a temporary repair. Unfortunately I had to buy a pack of 200 from WHS. So now I ride round with 199 paperclips.
 

freiston

Veteran
Location
Coventry
How did I miss this thread‽

On my "work bike", I have a Carradice Camper Longflap - it's on a QR bracket and has a shoulder strap so goes with me when the bike is parked. One side pocket has my lock in it when I'm riding the bike and my gloves,cap and bike clips when it's parked. Inside, a closed cell foam sit-mat, my little "man bag" (which accompanies me almost everywhere, whether on or off the bike) and a collection of carrier bags. Stuff is also carried - such as shopping and stuff for work. Depending on weather etc., it will have various items of clothing and wet weather gear too, including a shower-cap for the saddle. I never carry tools or a pump on this bike.

On other bikes and for leisure rides, it's usually a Lowsaddle Longflap and it usually has a sit-mat in it (handy for the knees when fixing a road-side puncture), my little toolkit pouch, my pump, my man-bag and clothes as above. Some (most) times I take a lock too.

Phone, keys, handkerchief and wallet usually go into pockets or bum bag (if the pockets ain't satisfactory) but sometimes in the saddlebag (but not the handkerchief).

If I'm taking a camera and/or binoculars, then they usually go into a handlebar bag or the saddlebag.

Things change when I'm overnighting with the camping gear.
 

Chris S

Legendary Member
Location
Birmingham
Make sure you've got the number of a local taxi company and a card to pay for a trip to hospital. If you come off the chances of getting an ambulance these days are almost non-existent.
 
Seat-bag, frame bag, bar bag, bum bag (Or other) - that is.

I’m sure we’ve all (mostl)y got: Spare tubes, glueless patches, a mini pump or CO2 canisters - maybe a Presta to Schrader adaptor so you can utilise a forecourt pump, tyre levers etc.

But what else do you carry that you’ve found invaluable ? Even if it might appear on face value unusual…..

***I carry all the above. Plus a few pound coins. And half a dozen small, individually l sealed ‘hand wipes’.

After that I’m in trouble……

A Laptop, I couldn't do my job without it!
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
Make sure you've got the number of a local taxi company and a card to pay for a trip to hospital. If you come off the chances of getting an ambulance these days are almost non-existent.

Rubbish.

There have been occasional, exceptional cases where an ambulance has not arrived for several hours. But they are exceptional.

In the vast majority of cases where there appears to be significant injury, an ambulance will be on scene within 10-15 minutes of being called, in a city or town, a bit longer if outside town.
 

Chris S

Legendary Member
Location
Birmingham
Rubbish.

There have been occasional, exceptional cases where an ambulance has not arrived for several hours. But they are exceptional.

In the vast majority of cases where there appears to be significant injury, an ambulance will be on scene within 10-15 minutes of being called, in a city or town, a bit longer if outside town.

I was told to make my own way to hospital or wait on the pavement for several hours. I had a fractured knee.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
I was told to make my own way to hospital or wait on the pavement for several hours. I had a fractured knee.

Like I said, these things have happened. But they are unusual.

When I broke my arm in August, the ambulance arrived fairly quickly. I wasn't actually taking much note of the time, but I'm sure it was under quarter of an hour from somebody calling them for me.

And while that is just as anecdotal as yours, I believe(d) my experience is more typical.

Hmm. Looking up published data, I'm not so sure any more. In Wales, "amber" calls (serious but not life threatening which would cover both of ours), almost 80% were over 1 hour in October this year. "Only" 54% for my trust in August, when I had my accident, which is still a lot more than I thought.
 
Top Bottom